Ligator and method of use

Abstract

A ligating system having a ligating apparatus configured to attach to a distal end of a scope and to hold a ligating band thereon; an activating cord configured to extend down a working channel of the scope and attach to the ligating apparatus; and a line pulling assembly including: a central body; an attachment mechanism on the central body configured to attach the line pulling assembly to a proximal end of the scope; an access channel through the central body and in communication with the working channel of the scope, the access channel providing an open inlet to the working channel of the scope when the line pulling assembly is attached to the proximal end of the scope; and a winding mechanism attached to the central body, wherein the winding mechanism is configured to pull the activating cord proximally such that the ligating band is removed from the ligating apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ligator apparatus comprising:
 a ligator barrel assembly having an outer barrel mounted about at least a portion of an inner barrel, a proximal end of the ligator barrel assembly configured to attach to a distal end of a scope and a distal end of the inner barrel configured to hold a ligating band thereon; and 
 an activating cord configured to extend at least partially around the inner barrel or the outer barrel of the ligator barrel assembly; 
 wherein the activating cord, when pulled proximally, causes relative rotation between the inner barrel and outer barrel and thus relative axial movement between the inner barrel and the outer barrel to force the ligating band off of the distal end of the inner barrel. 
 
     
     
       2. The ligator apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the outer barrel has interior threads matably engaged with exterior threads on the inner barrel. 
     
     
       3. The ligator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner barrel includes an axial passage configured to allow a user to view through the ligator apparatus when the ligator barrel assembly is attached to the scope. 
     
     
       4. The ligator apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an activating cord pulling assembly configured to be mounted a fixed distance from the ligator barrel assembly and attached to the activating cord, the activating cord pulling assembly configured to pull the activating cord proximally. 
     
     
       5. The ligator apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes an endoscope mount that is mountable adjacent a working channel access passage of the scope. 
     
     
       6. The ligator apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes a rotatable cord wrap rod. 
     
     
       7. The ligator apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes a cord wrap indexing handle connected to the rotatable cord wrap rod. 
     
     
       8. The ligator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the activating cord is configured to extend down a working channel of the scope. 
     
     
       9. A ligator apparatus comprising:
 a ligator barrel assembly having an outer barrel mounted about at least a portion of an inner barrel, a proximal end of the ligator barrel assembly configured to attach to a distal end of a scope and a distal end of the barrel assembly configured to hold a ligating band thereon; 
 a cord passage extending from the outer barrel to the inner barrel; and 
 an activating cord configured to pass through a working channel of the scope, through the cord passage, and at least partially around the inner barrel or the outer barrel of the ligator barrel assembly, the activating cord configured to cause relative rotation between the inner barrel and the outer barrel when pulled proximally so as to force the ligating band off of the distal end of the barrel assembly. 
 
     
     
       10. The ligator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein pulling the activating cord proximally causes relative axial movement between the inner barrel and the outer barrel. 
     
     
       11. The ligator apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an activating cord pulling assembly configured to be mounted a fixed distance from the ligator barrel assembly and attached to the activating cord, the activating cord pulling assembly configured to pull the activating cord proximally. 
     
     
       12. The ligator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes an endoscope mount that is mountable adjacent a working channel access passage of the scope. 
     
     
       13. The ligator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes a rotatable cord wrap rod. 
     
     
       14. The ligator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the activating cord pulling assembly includes a cord wrap indexing handle connected to the rotatable cord wrap rod. 
     
     
       15. The ligator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inner barrel includes an axial passage configured to allow a user to view through the ligator apparatus when the ligator barrel assembly is attached to the scope. 
     
     
       16. The ligator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the cord passage extends from an outer surface of the outer barrel to an inner surface of the inner barrel. 
     
     
       17. The ligator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein and a distal end of the inner barrel is configured to hold the ligating band thereon.